Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Louisiana Tech
Fresno State Pounds LA Tech, 63-56
1/6/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
RUSTON, La. - After playing its past five games in the friendly confines of the Save Mart Center, the Fresno State men's basketball team's return to the road featured a power and outside attack in a 63-56 conference victory over Louisiana Tech on Thursday night in the Thomas Assembly Center.
"We talk about the three E's - energy, effort and execution - and we had the them tonight," head coach Steve Cleveland noted. "I liked our execution in the last minutes and how we managed the clock. Both Jonathan (Wills) and Garrett (Johnson) made key plays down the stretch. This is a good win for us."
The win marked the third straight for the Bulldogs, who have won six of its past seven contests.
"We are better and playing more unselfish right now," Cleveland said. "It is never easy on the road, but we found a way to win."
The low post power of Greg Smith dominated the nets and glass for 14 points and a career-high 12 rebounds. It was his fifth career double-double, which marked the sophomore's first this season.
, "Greg rebounded as well as he ever has in the first half," Cleveland said of Smith, who produced nine points and nine rebounds through the first 20 minutes.
Fresno State built a 35-21 halftime advantage behind Garrett Johnson's game-high 11 first-half points.
The Bulldogs will take their WAC-leading 3-0 record to Las Cruces for a Saturday night affair at 6 p.m. Pacific with the New Mexico State Aggies in the Pan American Center. The game can be seen live on the WAC Sports Network, which will be broadcast locally in the San Joaquin Valley on KAIL.
POST GAME NOTES
• With the 63-56 win, Fresno State improved to 3-0 in conference action for the second straight season and sits in first-place in the WAC standings.
• Fresno State is now 7-6 overall this season, including six victories in its past seven outings.
• Steve Cleveland, who is in his sixth season as the Bulldogs' head coach, won his 85th game at Fresno State. He is now four wins away from tying Bill Vandenburgh (89) for fifth all-time in wins by a Fresno State head men's basketball coach.
• Greg Smith recorded his fifth career double-double (14 points and 12 rebounds), which marked his first this season. The feat also marked his 26th career performance and sixth time this season he has scored 10 or more points.
• Garrett Johnson, a sophomore from Pomona, Calif., scored a game-high 17 points. He has scored 10 or more points five times in his two-year Bulldog career.
• Fresno State led 35-21 at halftime, led by Garrett Johnson's game-high 11 first-half points.
• Fresno State is now 7-1 on the season when leading at halftime.
• Fresno State is now 2-0 in games decided by fewer than 10 points.
• Fresno State is now 7-2 when scoring at least 60 points in a game.
"We Are Your Team!" --- Fresno State finishes their WAC-opening road trip on Saturday night at New Mexico State. The game will tip at 6 p.m. Pacific on the WAC Sports Network. The Bulldogs return to the Save Mart Center to host defending regular season conference champion Utah State on Saturday, Jan. 15 at 7 p.m. Tickets are available at www.ticketmaster.com.
